KUALA LUMPUR: Police said about two million Hindu devotees and visitors are expected to visit Batu Caves here for the annual Thaipusam celebration.
Gombak district police chief Assistant Commissioner Zainal Mohamed Mohamed said traffic congestion around the Batu Caves area was expected to start from today to Feb 6.
He said the chariot procession would leave the temple in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee here about 10pm on Friday and arrive at Batu Caves about 3pm on Saturday.
Seven roads around the Batu Caves Temple will be closed from midnight tonight until Feb 8.
The seven roads are the Kampung Melayu Batu Caves traffic light junction, the Middle Ring Road 2 turn off to the Batu Caves Temple and the traffic light junction in front of the Shell Batu Caves petrol station," he said at a press conference here today.
"Other roads are the Jalan SBC 8/Jalan Lama Batu Caves junction, the Middle Ring Road 2 turnoff from Sri Gombak headed to the Jalan Perusahaan Batu Caves, and Jalan Perusahaan toward the Batu Caves Temple.
Zainal said the alternative routes proposed by the police would be updated through the Gombak District Police Department's Facebook page.
"Road users are advised to use alternative roads and public transport to avoid traffic jams," he said.
Meanwhile, Sentul district police chief Assistant Commissioner Beh Eng Lai, in a statement today, said traffic on several roads will be diverted on Saturday from 4am to 10am for the chariot procession.
The roads include Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah (both ways) from the Sentul IPD traffic light intersection to the Jalan Perhentian traffic light intersection, and the same stretch between 6pm and midnight on Feb 6.
Beh advised road users to plan their travel and choose alternative routes to avoid being caught in traffic congestion. -- BERNAMA